“Back in the 20th century, we didn’t have exciting hybrids in new colors and forms: singles,
doubles; short, tall; brilliant colors that had never before been associated with coneflowers.”

This year — 2014, if you need a reminder — has been dubbed the year of the echinacea, aka
coneflower, by the National Garden Bureau.

Coneflowers in almost every hue but blue are popping up in gardens across the country.

“The new colors that they’re coming out with are fantastic: the yellows, the reds,” said Jan
Pavlinak of Bluestone Perennials, a nursery in Madison, Ohio, near Lake Erie.

“The new colors are definitely what everybody’s talking about.

“And everybody loves a daisy shape” — including pollinators such as bees and butterflies.

Addressing an issue that some gardeners have been wondering about, she said: “This winter was
particularly difficult for the echinacea hybrids,” especially reds and oranges.

But coneflowers weren’t alone in suffering more losses than usual; because of the record cold,
many perennials struggled.

Here’s a look at recent developments in echinaceas.

•
Color: Firebird, Flame Thrower, Tiki Torch and Tomato Soup are among the new
varieties that grab attention, Pavlinak said. With names such as that, you know they’re somewhere
in the orange-red family.

•
Form: For large centers with relatively small petals, Coconut Lime and Hot Papaya
are popular.

Pink Double Delight and Pink Poodle — so full as to suggest a chrysanthemum — boast double
flowers.

Pica Bella, short for a coneflower at “only” 2 feet, is recommended for tight spots.